Improvement in curtain-fixtures



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Improvement in Sliding Curtain-sf" N0. 121,242 Patented Nov. 28, 1871-.V

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Improvement in Sliding Curtains.

N0. Pa tented NOJV- 28,1871.

L Y' 1 fig 2 QQZ/ f UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.-

JOSHUA GRAY, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR W. GRAY ANDCHARLES H. HARTSHORN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,242, dated November28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA GRAY, of Medford, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Device forSupporting Sliding or Draw Curtains, of which. the following is afull,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is aperspective View of a case of shelves provided with a curtain supportedby my improved device. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the same, with thecurtain drawn back so as to expose the shelves. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line as a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse verticalsection on the line y y of Fig. 3.

That class of curtains which is so hung as to admit of being drawn toone side has heretofore been attached to rings made to slide upon a rod,and when a long space is to be covered by curtains of this description,as, for instance, the shelves around a store or library, the supports bywhich the rods are held in place limit the movement of the rings thereonand render it necessary to make the curtains in short lengths, whichwhen drawn back occupy considerable space and are frequently in the way.My invention has for its object to overcome these difliculties; andconsists in a device whereby a single curtain of any desired length maybe hung in such a manner as to admit of its being entirely drawn back tothe end of its support, where it may be inclosed out of sight in acloset or receptacle made for the purpose.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, AA represent a series of shelves placed within acasing, B, to the top or cornice of which is secured a tube, C, throughthe bottom of which is cut a slot or opening, a, extending continuouslyfrom one end of the tube to the other. Within this tube is placed aseries of bolts or slides, b, to each of which is secured the shank, c,of an eye d, which is attached to the upper edge of the curtain D, asseen in Fig. 1. A curtain thus supported is free to be moved in eitherdirection, as the slot or opening a will allow the shanks c with theirballs I) to slide from one end of the tube C to the other, and theentire curtain can consequently be drawn to the end of the tube into acloset, E, which is provided with a door, 0, the end of the tube 0 beingcurved so as to lead directly into the closet, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

By means of the above-described device a single curtain of sufficientlength to cover the shelves extending entirely around a store or librarymay be readily and quickly drawn back to one end of the supporting-tubeand inclosed out of sight when not required for use, which cannot beaccomplished when it is supported in the ordinary manner by ringssliding upon a rod. If desired the bottom of the curtain may be providedwith a series of balls sliding within a tube similar to the tube C. I donot confine myself to the use of balls, as slides or other form may beplaced within the tube if preferred.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to seby Letters Patent, is

1. The balls or slides 11, in combination with a tube, C, operatingsubstantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the balls or slides b, the tube C, and the curtainD, operating substan-. tially in the manner and for the purpose setforth.

3. In combination with the tube C and the balls or slides b the curtainD and the closet E, as and for the purpose specified.

Witness my hand this 6th day of July A. D. 1871.

Witnesses: JOSHUA GRAY.

P. E. TESOHEMACHER,

W. J. CAMBRIDGE. (62)

